Weather - Channel 5 Belize

Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

As of 8:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, has identified two areas of interest in the Atlantic basin that could potentially develop into tropical systems over the coming days.

Western Caribbean/Southwestern Gulf of Mexico:
The first area of concern is a tropical wave currently situated over the central Caribbean Sea. This system is moving rapidly westward at approximately 25 mph, accompanied by disorganised shower activity. There is a possibility that environmental factors may improve by the weekend.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent.

Eastern Tropical Atlantic:
The second area being monitored is a tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. This disturbance is generating disorganised showers and thunderstorms as it moves westward across the central and western tropical Atlantic at a speed of 15 to 20 mph.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent.

Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

The NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL, has issued a tropical weather outlook for the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico as of 2:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. A tropical wave currently located over the southeastern Caribbean Sea is generating disorganized showers and thunderstorms while moving quickly westward at approximately twenty-five miles per hour. Environmental conditions may become conducive to gradual development of the system once it reaches the western Caribbean Sea later this week, with potential for further development over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico during the weekend. The chance of formation through the next forty-eight hours is low at 10 percent, and the chance of formation over the next seven days is also low at twenty percent.

Overtopped Culvert Caused Coastal Road Damage

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing explained that damage to the Coastal Plains Highway was caused by a 3.0m x 1.5m box culvert that was overtopped due to backwater from Soldier Creek, approximately 180m away.

In a press release, the ministry said that this backwater resulted from a blockage in the creek and deforestation caused by recent wildfires, which expanded the catchment areas around the culvert.

“The Road Maintenance Unit of the MIDH, along with the contractor, has been mobilised to execute clean-up and minor restoration works on the pavement. In addition, the MIDH is conducting further assessment of the area to determine any additional contributing factors that forced run-off away from the intended Soldier Creek.”

According to the ministry, this suggests that the culvert’s overtopping and subsequent pavement erosion were due to the unexpected intensity of rainfall and flash flooding, along with debris overwhelming the culvert’s capacity.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced the “suspension of classes for all levels in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts for today, 17th June 2024. This suspension is necessary due to excessive rainfall, which has impacted both districts since early this morning.”